Northumbria University

The School of Design at Northumbria University is presently undergoing a process of mainstreaming its teaching programme to incorporate elements of the ethical fashion and sustainability agendas. This includes project work which straddles our fashion design, marketing and communication degrees, factory simulations and dedicated module components on the fashion industry and design realisation.

Undergraduate

(2009) BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and BA (Hons) Fashion Communication

The Contemporary Design Issues module includes labour issues, fast and cheap fashion, sustainability, the affect of discarded clothes on overseas economies and globalisation and glocalisation. A module IT for Fashion Communication is delivered to first year students exploring contentious issues from a wide socio economic and political frame work. Students take on differing roles to debate different stakeholder perspectives. They put together a presentation to their peers to open the discussion for wider debate.

For further information contact: Sarah McDonnell at <s.mcdonnell_at_northumbria.ac.uk> (replace (_at_) with @)

Visit the University website.

Postgraduate

(2009) MA Fashion Management and Entrepreneurship (Northumbria University School of Design London)

As part of the innovative MA Fashion Management and Entrepreneurship programme offered at the Northumbria University School of Design London, we explore the ethical and environmental values prevalent in the fashion industry, debate the issues facing the industry and the consumer, and examine and develop alternative approaches to mitigate negative impact. Our focus on innovation in international design and product development practice challenges the status quo and stimulates debate on the local versus global issues which will lead to improved knowledge and informed decision making.

Visit the course website.

Research

(2009) Research

Professor Doug Miller is the newly appointed Chair of Ethical Fashion with a focus on the working conditions of those people, mainly in developing countries, who make our clothes. Despite technically being covered by the International Labour Organisation Conventions, millions of workers still fail to have their basic rights recognised. His position is funded by Inditex - a multinational Spanish-based retailer which owns the well known Zara brand in the UK and is the first solely externally-funded Chair in the University. Professor Miller spent eight years as research director with the Brussels-based International Textiles Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ITGLWF).